Happy Easter from Wagenseller Law Firm

Coach K: Take Time to Establish Standards

“In developing teams, I don’t believe in rules. I believe in standards. Rules don’t promote teamwork, standards do. Rules are issued by a leader to a group, and the group can either follow those rules or break them. When something is presented as a rule, you can’t own it. You can’t live it. Standards, on the other hand, are lived.”

“A team needs to work together to develop its particular set of standards. This process itself promotes teamwork. And when standards are established as a part of a group effort, they are understood and are capable of being embraced on a deeper level.”

“A major part of becoming a team, then, is the establishment and collective acceptance of your standards, based on your team’s makeup and centered on your unique goal. Once a group formulates and agrees to their standards, they become united, single-minded in purpose.”

Here are some of the standards formulated by the 2008 USA Men’s Olympic Basketball Team, coached by Coach K:

1. NO EXCUSES. We have what it takes to win.
2. COMMUNICATION. We look each other in the eye. We tell each other the truth.
3. TRUST. We believe in each other.
4. COLLECTIVERESPONSIBILITY. We are committed to each other. We win together.
5. CARE. We have each other’s backs. We give aid to a teammate.
6. RESPECT. We respect each other and our opponents. We’re always on time. We’re always prepared.
7. POISE. We show no weakness.
8. FLEXIBILITY. We can handle any situation. We don’t complain.
9. UNSELFISHNESS. We’re connected. We make the extra pass. Our value is not measured in playing time.
10. AGGRESSIVENESS. We play hard every possession.
11. ENTHUSIASM. This is fun.
12. PERFORMANCE. We’re hungry. We have no bad practices.
13. PRIDE. We are the best team in the world and we represent the best country.

The 2008-2009 Duke team also had similar standards but some other great ones:
1. CONFIDENCE. We believe in our own abilities. We believe in each other.
2. CONFRONTIMMEDIATELY. We let nothing linger.
3. DEPENDABILITY. We can be counted on.

In our business litigation practice we represent clients in cases involving fraud, breach of contract, partnership fights, corporate dissolutions and other business disputes.

On the real estate and business transactional side, we draft and review purchase and sale agreements and commercial leases, including office, industrial and retail leases. We also review and draft contracts for business deals.

We are committed to working closely with our clients to come up with solutions that achieve the client’s objectives in an efficient and cost-effective manner.